It charged the seamen who opted to use the service $.20 per month, not the employers.

It charged the seamen who used the service.

The seamen had to work to get the service.

Also, at the time, the merchant marine was considered the wartime reserve for the Navy (look up the reasons for supporting fisheries discussed at the time of the revolution), so it was, in a way, the predecessor to the VA.

By the way, Pres. Obama, what happened to 5 days of public review of any bill before signing?

Do you even KNOW what's in the bill? I know there are members of Congress who don't, and they voted for the damned thing, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the President hasn't read the thing. There were people howling mad last night at work when they found out their FSA accounts are getting cut in half.

The one eyed man in the kingdom of the blind wasn't king, he was stoned for seeing light.